Saint Matthew, a small sack in his left hand, from "Piccoli Santi" (Small Saints)
Original title: Saint Matthew, a small sack in his left hand, from "Piccoli Santi" (Small Saints)
kurzbeschreibung
Barefoot and turned to the left, Saint Matthew stands with a small sack in his left hand. Marcantonio Raimondi engraved this small figure between about 1500 and 1527.
Description
A single figure identifiable as Saint Matthew wears a monogram on his head. A cloak is draped over a long robe; he faces left, and his left hand closes around a small sack. Vertical strips run behind him, settling the saint into the middle of the sheet. Carefully drawn lines bring out the folds and the texture of the cloth.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian engraver of the Renaissance, became best known for reproductive prints after artists such as Raphael. The 'Piccoli Santi' series gathers small-scale depictions of saints, made for private devotion or as collectors' pieces. Matthew is one of the four Evangelists and often appears with attributes such as a sack or money, recalling his work as a tax collector. The dating of around 1500–27 falls within Raimondi's Roman years.
Impact
With the figure placed centrally and the background left bare, the sheet gives off quiet and concentration. The delicate handling of line makes the small format look refined and full of detail, in keeping with the high quality of Renaissance printmaking.
Technique
In engraving, an intaglio process, the lines are cut into a metal plate and then filled with ink. Even distribution of light and precise lines attest to Raimondi's technical command. The small size of 8.0 x 4.8 cm demanded especially fine execution.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)